The Issue Of The Unification Of Korea

North Korea, formally known as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a relic of the Cold War and the world’s last remaining totalitarian Stalinist dictatorship. Arguably the most secretive state in the world, North Korea poses a unique set of challenges to the world, especially to its democratic and capitalist neighbor, South Korea, formally known as the Republic of Korea (ROK). As one of the last remnants of the Cold War era, North Korea remains an anomaly of the international system due to its unpredictable nature and disregard for international norms. With the recent bombardment of the South Korean Island of Yeongpyong and the sinking of the warship Cheonan, tensions between the two Koreas are at the lowest point since

The rising tension over the sinking of a South Korean ship reached to a serious conflict between South Korean and North Korea. South Korean is accusing North Korean for firing the torpedo on purpose which resulted in 46 sailors deaths. According to Yonhap news, North Korean military official accused the South of intruding into North Korean waters in the Yellow Sea. North Korea sends a warning message to South Korea by firing torpedo to warn South Korea to not intrude in to their waters in Yellow Sea. North Korea doesn’t want to admit to their mistake; instead they are threatening to retaliate with military actions if South Korea won’t stop with accusations.

The Korean War begun far before North Korea had launched their first assault upon South Korea. Nearing of the end of the Second World War, the Korean Peninsula had been under Japanese control. Soon enough it was liberated by both American and Soviet forces, the Soviets occupying the country north of the 38th Parallel, and the Americans south of it. After the war, neither the Koreans, Soviets, nor the Americans could agree on the country's government. This resulted in the foundation of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the south and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north (Ohn Chang-Il, 23). The fact that neither the States nor the Soviets were willing to compromise on anything was a prime factor in the separation of the Korean Peninsula.

In 1950, South Korea developed its economy and was greatly influenced by the United States of America. While North Korea followed the path of communism, South Korea discovered a better path of developing their nation and becoming more unified as a family. The surrender of Japan to the allies at the end of World War II was the catalyst in the split of Korea. North Korea then attempted to conquer the Korean peninsula by force (Armstrong). South Korea focused on intensifying their nationalism such as developing their own culture and the unity of factions. Additionally, South Korea focused on improving the efficiency of its government system as it selected a new designated leader and received support and funding from their

First, the U.S. had the most of their issues with the USSR and the USSR consumed North Korea with a communist government. The U.S. feared that South Korea would be influenced by North Korea considering they were neighboring countries. It would create domino like effect. “To sit by while Korea is overrun by unprovoked armed attack would start a disastrous chain of events leading most probably to world war” (Doc.1). The U.S. feared for another war and hoped that South Korea would be able to not be influenced and be able to defend itself. This would help the US to not have to physically get involved with the USSR. Although

The country of Korea has been in turmoil for centuries and was founded on its turmoil of being unified and separated. Several objects stand in the way of them being unified once more the DPRK prefers communism while the ROK prefers Democracy both sides want to be united but can’t due to different morals, beliefs, and political views. And the history of Korea hasn’t always been pleasant due to wars and the attempted colonization of Korea by the Japanese.

The Korean War (1950-1953) emerged after World War II where the world powers at the time, the United States and Allies-UN Forces and the Soviet Union had conflicting visions for what the postwar world should look like. The shaping of the Korean Peninsula was first on their agendas. The Soviet Union vision was to unify Korea through the expansion of Communism, which made sense strategically with Communist China and the Soviet Union in Korea’s backyard. However, the unification of Korea would only happen via civil war. North Korea would have to invade South Korea and inflict their will by means of armed force. Conversely, as one can imagine the UN-Forces vision was to prevent the expansion of Communism and unify North and South Korea in a single country protected by the United States. (Alexander, 2013) Over a period of three years, the conflicting world powers would duke it out. North Korea would strike first by engaging in civil war and South Korea with UN Forces assistance would help stop their onslaught. Next, uninformed the UN Forces would head into North Korea on the offensive, only to be met by prepared communist forces, which leads to retreat of the UN Forces and ultimately a stalemate. (Hammel, 1981)

It has been almost sixty-five years since the split of Korea into the North and South. Although it was not until 1953 when Korea was confirmed by a signed agreement that it is spilt in North Korea and South Korea. As a result of Korea separating into two countries, two different people were in power with different types of governing. Although both countries were once one single country, they both have merged into two totally different countries, that if in the future they came back together to be one country it would be difficult to comprise their rulers and come to an agreement of governing between them.

The North, communist and Soviet ally, decided to attack the South region, democratic and US ally. In consequence, United States decided to intervene and help the South to throw the North’s military forces out of South Korean territory. This conflict could be ended there with the military forces of the North out of the South region, but president Truman decided to “unify the peninsula” (Zaimer p 257) and invaded the North. As a result, China, an ally of North Korea, intervened with a superior military force, and stopped the attempts of unification. This can be an example of how the intervention of America into foreign conflicts, scaled to a major conflict as a result of the competition for the power and control over foreign countries. This may call into question the true intentions of the United States to help its

The irritable North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, recently stated that the deadlock with South Korea was resolved by the enormous military muscle of the country’s nuclear weapons. According to the version of events by North Korea, the standoff with South Korea was a sign of the former’s strength. North and South Korea have remaining tensions, technically at war, because the Korean War ended with an armistice. These tensions escalated this month when a land mine explosion blamed on North Korea severely wounded two of South Korean’s soldiers. South Korea retaliated by turning on huge information speakers that blared disrespectful messages about Kim across the border. Military action was quickly threated by North Korea if the speakers were not turned

Beginning in the early 1940’s, Korea has been a split nation; the great divide that happened in initially in 1945 was just the beginning of what would become one of the world’s most infamous splits of a country. Radically different in political regime and agenda, these countries provide for a very complex case study of border conflict. Due to its extremely repressive regime, North Korea stands as one of the worst places to call home in the world, while South Korea is incredibly more liberal. Despite the inescapable amounts of propaganda imposed on the citizens of North Korea, the current generations of North Koreans hold ties to South Korea through separated family, making South Korea a very attractive but forbidden land. While South Korea continues to center its foreign policy on loosening the strict rule of the North Korean government, North Korea remains stubborn and the struggle remains in tow with the stark differentiation between ideologies politically, militarily, and culturally.

Specifically, North Korea prefers a communist settlement of unification to either the status quo or a "peaceful" unification. South Korea prefers a democratic settlement to either the status que or a "peaceful" unification. Thus, the dilemma that faces both sides is: since neither side can have its own best choice, they settle for the status quo. This is done in spite of the fact that the possibility of a peaceful settlement to unification is exists (a "peaceful" unification) that might be better for both sides than their own optimal choice. Neither side can choose collective

of Korea are to merge as one united country, several factors will need to be taken into question.

One concluding consensus from all of this is that swift reunification will not be good for either North or South Koreas. An abrupt merger will badly damage the South’s economy and credit, leaving the North to experience Soviet-style “shock therapy.”

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